reSee.it Podcast Summary
In this episode, Theo Von chats with Urijah Faber about fighting, business, and a mindset built on thinking big and acting purposefully. Faber explains that his intensity as a fighter remained constant, while his style evolved over time, driven by the need to compete at the highest level after wrestling at UC Davis. He recalls starting from nearly nothing: coaching, bussing tables, and building Top-Line Coaching while chasing a fighting career, and notes that his early vision extended beyond a single fight to a plan of multiple income streams and real estate.
Faber emphasizes the role of vision and accountability in success. He describes writing big goals in college—initially to become a world champion and later to own two houses and run a healthy, successful business—and discusses how he learned to think bigger after seeing peers achieve at the highest levels. He shares vivid anecdotes about his early fights on Indian reservations, earning small purses, and how endorphins, attention, and a sense of possibility drew him toward the fighting life despite minimal immediate payoff.
The conversation covers his evolving approach to fighting, humility, and the balance between delusion and belief. He talks about Conor McGregor as an example of a fighter with unwavering self-belief, and he notes that success also requires adaptability, training, publicity, and the ability to pivot when needed. He reflects on the many moments he would redo in his career, from fights with injuries to performances that didn’t meet his standards, but stresses that max effort mattered more than results.
Beyond fighting, Faber details his entrepreneurship: creating and growing a gym, managing fighters, and mentoring teammates such as Chad Mendes, Andre Touchy Feely, and Danny Castillo into business ventures. Mendes runs a hunting business, Feely produced a film and runs a label and clothing lines, and Castillo has P2O Hot Pilates. Faber discusses the real estate playbook he used early on—buy the worst house in the best neighborhood, fix it up, leverage debt, and grow a portfolio—emphasizing budget discipline, cash flow, and patience.
He also talks about his cinematic interests, producing projects, and his evolving relationship with media and entertainment, including a role in Rampage and involvement in films and podcasts. He reflects on the value of mentorship, the power of collaboration in his entrepreneurial circle, and the importance of staying curious, learning the business side of creativity, and building teams that share a similar work ethic.
The episode closes with reflections on legacy, the possibility of future fights, and a hopeful note about ongoing camaraderie among fighters, friends, and collaborators.